40 Facts About Sara Riel

Sara Riel was the first Metis Grey Nun from Red River.

Sara Riel is best known as the sister of Metis leader Louis Riel.

Sara Riel was inspired to become a nun after her brother Louis Riel entered the seminary to become a priest.

Sara Riel taught languages and arts at the Grey Nuns boarding schools between 1868 and 1871, after which she became a Catholic missionary.

Sara Riel's family were active members in the Red River community right up to the Metis resistance.

In 1872 Sara Riel was taken ill and almost died, after claiming a vision from God, Sara Riel changed her name to 'Sister Marguerite-Marie of Alacoque' and re-honoured her vows and commitment to the Catholic Church.

Sara Riel died of tuberculosis in 1884 at the age of 35.

Sara Riel was born on October 11,1848, in Red River, a small community settled via the fur trade and later expanded by the colonization of Lord Selkirk.

Sara Riel's father was Jean-Louis Riel born in 1817, he was a voyageur for the North West Company, and was a 5th generation settler of French-Canadian descent.

In Red River, Jean-Louis Sara Riel became a notable person among the Metis.

Sara Riel himself led many Metis movements, including one surrounding the Sayer Trial in 1849.

Sara Riel was from a French background that integrated with the Metis culture and passed on their traditions to their children.

Sara Riel's parents chose the marriage to Jean-Louis Riel for the purposes of financial and social security for their daughter.

Sara Riel was the fourth child born to Jean-Louis Riel and Julie Lagimodiere.

Altogether the Sara Riel family consisted of 11 children but only 8 lived to adulthood.

The Sara Riel family were respected members of Red River, and the children lived a more privileged life which was tied to the Catholic Church.

Sara Riel taught her children the ways of the Catholic Church.

Sara Riel was educated by the Sisters of Charity boarding school in St Boniface.

Sara Riel excelled in many subjects including languages, art, and music.

Sara Riel learned household skills such as cooking and cleaning along with spin, knit, sewing, and embroidering.

Sara Riel attended school in St Boniface from 1858 until 1866 when she was chosen to join the Grey Nuns.

Sara Riel was skilled in many languages including French, English, Michif, and Cree.

Sara Riel was the only one who was allowed to stay in school and fulfill her mission as a nun.

The Sara Riel family was very dedicated to the education of their children.

Louis Sara Riel left school in 1865, abandoning all wishes to join the church.

Sara Riel did not return home from Montreal until after his father's death.

Two years later in 1868, Sara Riel took her vows and joined the Catholic community.

On June 22,1871, Sister Sara Riel left for the mission of Ile-a-La-Crosse now in northern Saskatchewan.

Sara Riel was not impressed by the choice to move her.

When Sara Riel learned that she would have to perform manual and domestic duties, she saw that as a demotion to all the hard work she had done.

Sara Riel was often mentioned in the writings and correspondence of the Grey Nuns.

Sara Riel was a very active, important and hardworking member of the clergy, who was often recognized for her actions.

In 1872 Sister Sara Riel was taken ill and almost died one day after choir practice.

Sara Riel was determined that her mission was to Ile-a-la-Cross and would stay until the end.

Sara Riel died December 27,1883, at the age of 35.

Sara Riel served the Catholic Church as a Nun for just over 17 years, either as a teacher, a translator or a missionary.

Sara Riel claimed her love for him, she reminded him to be strong and to remain dedicated to God in all his actions.

Today, Sara Riel is not talked about as much as her brother.

Sara Riel is seen as an important figure in the history of the Metis woman, of Red River and in the Catholic Missionary.

Sara Riel was an active writer, which left a larger paper trail allowing historians and scholars an insight into her life, family and the people at the time of the resistance.